In Vermont, sadness, grief and promises that schools are as prepared as possible

Dec. 14, 2012

Written by

Free Press Staff Writer

Advice for parents

The Vermont Department of Mental Health published information online Friday offering advice on talking to young people about the Connecticut school shooting. The site is available here: http://bit.ly/VTAdvice.

She was in the cafeteria at Burlington High School with school staff when the news circulated Friday morning about the deadly attack in Newtown, Conn. Collins said she felt “shock, sadness, anger” among other emotions.

Since the Columbine shootings in Colorado, schools across the nation have increased security. Burlington schools hold lockdown drills and evacuation drills on a regular basis, and keep only one door open to the public.

These precautions are bound to save lives, Collins said. But the Connecticut shooting no doubt will trigger renewed discussions about security, she added.

“I’m sure that this is going to generate a lot of conversation,” she said. “How do we prepare to prevent something like this? It’s an ongoing struggle and an ongoing goal.”

One of the challenges for schools is protecting not just against strangers who pose threats, but against individuals who are connected to the school community as relatives of students or employees. Vermont knows this threat firsthand. In 2006, a gunman upset by a breakup with his girlfriend went to Essex Elementary School, where the girlfriend worked as a teacher. Christopher Williams shot four people, killing two. He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole in 2008.

The shooter in Newtown, Conn., reportedly is the son of a teacher at the Sandy Hook Elementary School, where the massacre took place.

“I don’t think anybody can ever protect 100 percent unless we were living in a complete lockdown state,” Collins said. “I think that’s unrealistic given the current democracy within which we live. But we can’t ignore the fact that threats can exist at any time, and we need to be prepared for them, to prepare as best we can for them.”

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Gov. Peter Shumlin also reacted with horror to the school shooting.

“I was shocked and sickened to hear about this morning’s tragic shooting in Newtown, Connecticut,” the governor said in a statement issued midafternoon Friday. “My office has spoken with Vermont State Police and the Vermont Principals Association, who report that principals and staff are especially vigilant in the aftermath of this morning’s tragedy. Parents and students should know that nearly all Vermont schools have emergency plans and security in place.”

Shumlin continued, “As a parent, I am heartbroken by this tragedy, and my heart and thoughts are with the loved ones of the victims in Connecticut.”

As the nightmare story unfolded, people debated on Twitter and message boards about gun control, services for the mentally ill, and the plight of fractured families — reaching out for remedies as well as explanations for an act that stunned the nation with its depravity. The shooter reportedly had at least two semi-automatic handguns and a semi-automatic rifle.

Vilaseca, Vermont’s education commissioner, was among those who saw the tragedy as reason to discuss gun control, specifically involving automatic weapons. “I’m a hunter myself, but as a hunter I would never even consider having an automatic rifle,” he said.

Coming on the heels of several other mass shootings, including one last week at a Portland, Ore., mall, the Connecticut tragedy was all the more awful. As a tearful President Obama declared “Our hearts are broken,” many people agreed.

Martha Allen, president of Vermont-NEA teachers union, issued a statement expressing her sorrow.

“As a teacher, a mother and an American, I am heartsick at today’s tragedy,” she said. “I know I speak for all of our members when I say our prayers and thoughts are with the victims, their families and the greater Newtown community.”

Schools across Vermont sent letters home to parents about school security plans. They also offered advice on how to speak with children about the tragedy.

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“The administrators, teachers, and staff of the South Burlington School District understand the responsibility you entrust in us to care for your children and keep them safe,” wrote David Young, superintendent of that city’s schools. “We have a school crisis plan in place in all five schools and run monthly practice drills to ensure that we are efficient and effective with our response to emergencies.”

It’s important for parents and guardians to answer questions from children when asked, Young continued, but he urged caution “especially with younger students, of the potentially alarming news footage that will likely be aired.”

The Vermont Department of Mental Health issued advice, too, about addressing the shootings with young people.

“With the tragic shootings today in Connecticut,” the department said Friday, “children will be understandably troubled if they hear of this news. Please talk to them and let them know that everyone in our communities are working together to make sure that children and their families and pets are safe.”